The Braw and The Brave is a podcast about people and their passions.

Episode 223 is in conversation with Charlie of Bang Bang Scotland. Starting off her professional life studying dance in Liverpool, Charlie pursued a career in performing and choreographing, working across the UK on a plethora of projects and productions, from theatre to education, cabaret to community work. It was then a move into working in retail with brands such as Chanel, YSL, Lancome, Christian Dior and Tom Ford that then sparked an interest in makeup…something she’d already perfected as a dancer. From bridal makeup to working with bands and brands, Bang Bang Scotland is highly respected name within the industry and now, with a decades of experience, Charlie balances her two passions, dance and makeup artistry, going after the things that make her soul sing. With her sparkling personality, unwavering work ethic and innate talent, Charlie is a force of nature!

Bang Bang Scotland

https://www.bangbangbeauty.uk/about

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/bangbangscotland?igsh=aGN2anNxdDNtZnJj

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/bangbangbridal

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The Braw and The Brave is a podcast about people and their passions.

N.B. Contains some strong language

Welcome to The Club! Been broken up with? The patriarchy getting you down? Cry behind your pal’s garage and ruin the party again? Well, have no fear because Sad Girls Club is here!

Episode 222 is in conversation with actors Hannah Morton, Hannah Sutherland and Emma McDougall, stars of the hit show Sad Girls Club. Following a successful Fringe run, Sad Girls Club is returning to Glasgow’s International Comedy Festival this March!

We chat about the real life events that inspired this uplifting and empowering play written by Hannah Morton, casting and rehearsing this epic production and sharing the show with different audiences around the country. Tacking a number of issues faced by women, Sad Girls Club is a witty, moving tale of love, loss, strength and friendship.

Tickets for Sad Girls Club

https://glasgowcomedyfestival.seetickets.com/event/sad-girls-club/oran-mor/2818157?fbclid=PAAaYa2uBT2YiQ4qQahFn4k8t92On8nikQBj6DCZ1QL4ZOVHKWzOjG6gkith8_aem_AUAOP2ZLqCd-pE20IL3NnJB2OXV7J3qGBSSxIOv4gFdDUAZxlOyZO9pAGuOVIGEWrNU

Sad Girls Club on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/thesadgirlsclub2024?igsh=MXNyemRvYzRvcXlwcw==

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The Braw and The Brave is a podcast about people and their passions.

Episode 221 is in conversation with Ross Baxter and Chiara Sparkes, the masterminds behind DRIVE- Scotland’s new and exciting musical theatre partnership. Best friends and both professional actors, the pair decided to create a musical theatre cabaret experience like no other, showcasing some of the country’s most incredible musical theatre talent.

Ahead of their next event, Drive Lounge Vol.4: 'The Panto Hangover on Saturday January 27th 2024 at August House in Glasgow, Ross and Chiara join the BrawBrave Clan to talk about the journey thus far with Drive and why they have endeavoured to create a supportive, inclusive space to platform the calibre of musical theatre here in Scotland.

DRIVE on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/driveofficial__?igsh=YnJzOWI5Z2lrdW5x

Tickets for DRIVE

https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/drivelounge/drive-lounge-volume-four/e-gdkpzl?fbclid=PAAaa4jo6HBbZIKEQWD5RJsfsB3leDGLuIrMv8Y93oD27U9UC-6d7W_iEERmo_aem_AVd_lLV1yG4rLIck-YJaYWdsdj-UHnYRSZmun8tsWq3YvLRz76uxAT7talV2FQICN4k

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The Braw and The Brave is a podcast about people and their passions!

Episode 220 is in conversation with Scottish singer songwriter Megan Black. With emphasis on themes such as feminism, mental health and the LGBTQ+ community, Megan’s unique sound and captivating stage presence has seen her win awards and gain a loyal following here in Scotland and beyond.

A perfect storm of blues, rock and her angst at the world, Megan Black is one to watch for sure!

Website

https://meganblackofficial.weebly.com

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/meganblackmusic?igsh=MTlmd3pvd2gzMGxmNA==

If you’ve enjoyed this episode you can help support the production of future episodes by clicking on the Ko-Fi link below. Many thanks.

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The Braw and The Brave is a podcast about people and their passions.

Episode 219 is in conversation with EJ Kempson founder of QUEENZ SOUNDS- a UK charity which aims to empower artists and promote equality within the music industry. A platform supporting women and LGBTQ+ musicians to help further their careers and grow as artists, they host events showcasing an array of talent and different music genres, with a view to giving opportunities to emerging and established artists. A values-based organisation, Queenz Sounds are embarking on a mission to champion those who are underrepresented and encourage positive change within the industry.

Website

https://www.queenssounds.com

Queenz Sounds on Instagram

https://instagram.com/queenzsoundscharity?igshid=MzMyNGUyNmU2YQ==

If you’ve enjoyed this episode you can help support the production of future episodes by clicking on the Ko-Fi link below. Many thanks.

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The Braw and The Brave is a podcast about people and their passions.

Please note: In this episode there are references to addiction, abuse and trauma which some may find triggering. Please find helpful links below.

Episode 218 is in conversation with acclaimed poet and spoken word artist Courtney Stoddart.

A published poet and seasoned performer, her career started with a notebook and an innate calling to put pen to paper with her work focussing mainly on racism, imperialism and challenging dominant power structures. Recognised both nationally and internationally, in this episode she documents the events leading up to her finding her voice on the page and the inspiration behind sharing her work with new audiences, with her poetry taking her to literary festival FLUP in Brazil and collaborating on theatre productions including Lament For Sheku Bayoh at the Lyceum Theatre.

With grit, grace and boundless natural talent, Courtney has carved out a hugely successful career and in this conversation shares openly, the monumental challenges she has faced and overcome to pursue her passion- a truly insightful and inspiring listen.

If you’ve enjoyed this episode you can help support the production of future episodes by clicking on the Ko-Fi link below. Many thanks.

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Helpful links

https://womensaid.scot

https://www.sdf.org.

https://breathingspace.scot

The Braw and The Brave is a podcast about people and their passions.

N.B. This episode contains some strong language

Episode 217 is in conversation with Sandy Thomson, a writer and director working in both theatre and film in the UK and the USA. Artistic Director of theatre company Poorboy, telling stories came naturally from growing up in a family of performers and storytellers, with her dad’s engineering background inspiring her inventive spirit. With award winning live work in promenade and site specific stories, Sandy is compelled to push boundaries both on and off stage, with her tenacity and strong moral compass driving for positive change across the arts landscape.

A force of nature and a force for good, Sandy Thomson’s varied and extensive career to date is hugely impressive and her tales of growing up and going after her dreams truly inspiring!

You'll find Sandy here:

www.poorboy.co.uk

www.squadwalkfilms.com

If you’ve enjoyed this episode you can help support the production of future episodes by clicking on the Ko-Fi link below. Many thanks.

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Th Braw and The Brave is a podcast about people and their passions.

Episode 216 is in conversation with actor and musician John McLarnon. Attending the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland to study musical theatre after completing a degree in music, John has gone on to star in a plethora of productions across the UK and beyond, including We Will Rock You and The Commitments in the West-End, National Theatre of Scotland’s Orphans and a UK tour of Sunshine on Leith. An accomplished screen actor, John has appeared in the global phenomenon Outlander and most recently in Irvine Welsh’s series Crime.

As a seasoned singer-songwriter, his debut EP Thirty Two Winters went straight in at number on the iTunes singer-songwriter chart upon release.

John is founder of The Bespoke Folk, a one-stop shop for actors looking for professionally produced voice reels and self-tapes. Keen to support fellow creatives, John is expending the business to create a welcoming community and a Glasgow-based hub offering workshops, opportunities and technical support for those industry and others looking to get some experience.

With great humility, John McLarnon is a super talented and incredibly skilled creative who goes after the things that make his soul sing.

Follow The Bespoke Folk on Instagram

https://instagram.com/bespokevoicefolk?igshid=MzMyNGUyNmU2YQ==

If you’ve enjoyed this episode you can help support the production of future episodes by clicking on the Ko-Fi link below. Many thanks.

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The Braw and The Brave is a podcast about people and their passions.

Episode 215 is in conversation with actor, producer and author Craig Andrew Mooney. With storytelling playing a huge role in his upbringing, Craig switched paths and pursued acting entering the world of TV and film in 2016, following a career in teaching. Cast in Mile Away Film’s feature film ‘The Difference Between Us’ in 2021, Craig’s talents and interests beyond performing saw him become a second writer and script editor on the project, with his experience on and off camera an asset to the film and the company’s expansion. Launching his debut novel ‘The Rebel of Time’ in 2023, he brings a story of adventure, magic and intrigue to young adult readers and beyond, with a hope of inspiring the next generation of authors in Scotland.

Links to Craig’s work

https://linktr.ee/craigandrewmooney

Follow Craig on Instagram

https://instagram.com/craigandrewmooney?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

If you’ve enjoyed this episode you can help support the production of future episodes by clicking on the Ko-Fi link below. Many thanks.

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The Braw and The Brave is a podcast about people and their passions

Episode 214 is in conversation with award-winning composer Gareth Williams. From growing up in Armagh to studying in Belfast, before moving to Glasgow to continue his education in music composition, Gareth’s love of storytelling has seen him create a hugely impressive and extensive body of work to date. With ten operas under his belt, he has collaborated on a number of projects that endeavour to challenge the medium of opera, breathing life into untapped stories, introducing new audiences to the genre. As Composer in Residence at Scottish Opera from 2011 to 2014, alongside creating a series of operas, Gareth also established Breath Cycle at the respiratory ward of Gartnavel Royal Hospital, working with patients with Cystic Fibrosis. Breath Cycle was nominated for a Royal Philharmonic Award in 2015 and the project now supports those dealing with Long Covid.

With a self-confessed obsession with ‘writing wee tunes and telling wee stories’, during the pandemic, Gareth was inspired to compose a stunning album entitled Songs From The Last Page, which both showcases Scottish literature and explores the relationship between text and song. Released in August 2023, he has subsequently toured a number of venues across Scotland bringing the stories and songs to both music and book lovers alike.

Documenting his fascinating musical journey to date from playing in piano bars to writing an opera staged in a lighthouse, for Gareth Williams it’s always about the people, the places and the stories.

Links

Linktree

https://linktr.ee/gareth_composer

Website

https://www.garethwilliamsmusic.com/

Breath Cycle II- the Composer’s Songbook

https://www.scottishopera.org.uk/join-in/breath-cycle/the-covid-composers-songbook/

Rocking Horse Winner soundtrack

https://tapestryopera.bandcamp.com/album/rocking-horse-winner

If you’ve enjoyed this episode you can help support the production of future episodes by clicking on the Ko-Fi link below. Many thanks.

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